A pril 2012
Science
in
the
NE WS
p o w e r e d b y Science a-z a d i v i s i o n o f L e a r n i n g A - Z
Lean, Green
School Machine
By Alex Jeffries
Earth Day is a time when many people “go green.”
“Going green” means taking action to protect the
planet. This includes saving energy, reducing waste,
and adding plants where they are needed. At home,
you might recycle or conserve water and energy.
But do you still have a “green attitude” at school?
Students in Austin, Texas, recycle old papers at the end
of the year. Recycling is just one way to “go green.”
For example, shutting off the faucet saves water,
and turning off lights saves electricity. To save
trees and cut back on waste, recycle all the paper
you don’t need anymore (see graph below).
that powers the school’s hot water heater or powers
the school’s lights. Green schools also insulate walls to
reduce the energy needed to heat and cool classrooms.
At lunchtime, mountains of trash can quickly pile
up. Wasted food, foam lunch trays, and empty lunch
bags fill garbage bins. Setting up a recycling program
in the cafeteria and using reusable lunch totes can
help reduce this waste.
At school, at home, and everywhere you go, changing
your actions can help the environment in the future. n
Discuss It
What are some other ways you can help your school “go green”?
Some schools have even gone green by using
materials that don’t harm the environment or use
fewer resources. For example, solar panels placed
on the roof convert the Sun’s rays into electricity
how much is recycled
Millions of tons
What Is Earth Day?
Earth Day was created by
Gaylord Nelson, a U.S. senator
from Wisconsin. Nelson
worked to protect the planet
by trying to pass different
laws. The first Earth Day took
place on April 22, 1970. Each
year since then, millions of adults and kids like
you do what they can to help protect Earth.
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1960
1980
2000
2010
Year
This bar graph shows how much garbage is sent
to recycling in the United States.
Credits: top right: © iStockphoto.com Milorad Zaric; center: © Bob Daemmrich/Alamy; bottom left: © Idaho Statesman/MCT/Landov; bottom right: © Jupiterimages Corporation
© Learning A–Z All rights reserved.
1
www.sciencea-z.com
Science in the News
Earth
Day
Alert
Giant Pythons Invade F l orida
By Jane King
On this Earth Day, an alien invader lurks in the
Everglades. Its skin provides camouflage against
the waving, wet grass. Like a silent storm, it sneaks
up on its prey, then strikes like lightning to capture
its next meal. This enormous predator is the Burmese
python. Because it is not normally found in the
Everglades, this snake is an invasive species.
FLORIDA
Orlando
Tampa
Lake
Okeechobee
Pythons can weigh up to 68 kilograms (150 lbs.) and
grow up to 4.5 meters (15 ft.) long. That’s as long as
a car! They are now in the Everglades because they
were released by—or escaped from—people who
owned them as pets.
Miami
In 2009, scientists captured this 15-foot
python in the Everglades.
Everglades
National Park
By eating these animals, pythons may upset the natural
Everglades food web—all the species that depend on
each other within the ecosystem. Scientists will continue
to study this growing problem. n
The Everglades proved to be a good home for pythons;
the snakes thrived by eating native birds, alligators,
and mammals. In fact, mammal sightings have
declined since the arrival of the Burmese python.
Raccoons, opossums, and rabbits are disappearing.
Fast
The
Everglades
Discuss It
What should Florida officials do about the python problem?
5
Pick the Recyclables
Some items are recyclable while others get
thrown in the trash. Look at the items below
and circle the ones that can be recycled.
Easy Earth Day
Tips for Kids
1.Gather a group of friends together to clean up a nearby park.
2.Plant a tree or garden.
3.Bicycle or walk to school.
4.Turn off the TV and the lights when you leave a room.
5.Turn off the faucet while you are brushing your teeth.
Answers to Pick the Recyclables: Students should circle
the newspaper, soda can, cardboard, and plastic bottle.
Credits: t to b l to r: © AP Images; © iStockphoto.com/Danny Smythe; © iStockphoto.com/Emrah Oztas; © Carlos Santa Maria/Dreamstime.com;
© iStockphoto.com/Feng Yu; © iStockphoto.com/Maria Toutoudaki; © iStockphoto.com/Greg Nicholas; background: © Jupiterimages Corporation
© Learning A–Z All rights reserved.
2
www.sciencea-z.com